clifford_thornton

Yeah, those Lowe records are really something. He replaced Steve Reid in Lowe's group, from what I recall, which led to "Fresh."

The wonderful St. Louis drummer Charles "Bobo" Shaw has passed at age 69, according to close personal friend Ntozake Shange. He was a founding member of the Black Artists' Group and performed with the Human Arts Ensemble, Anthony Braxton, and his own groups. I was lucky enough to interview him -- although unfortunately only over the phone -- for a short "Encore" article in the July 2015 issue of the New York City Jazz Record, as he played the Vision Festival that year. He was sounding great in recent years after a long period off the scene (owing to personal problems and incarceration). Sad news to receive on a Monday; may he rest in peace.

Wonder if Dave Wayne is available?

ooh, hopefully they make it to NYC. And I'm hopeful the group is recorded as well.

Thanks all! Was hiding out for a bit in January!

Brother Ahh aka Robert Northern - Key To Nowhere - (Divine, US orig)

There have to be some 4400 series or early LAxxx titles that haven't made it to CD. Sometimes I run into records from that era that I've never seem before and it's always a shocker.

ah right, okay that makes sense. Nice find.

A once every decade spin of: Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue - (Caribou, US)

The Mothers of Invention - We're Only In It For The Money - (Verve, US orig)

Got a couple little Snells that I love very much. Hand-me-downs from my dad, who's a stereo nut, but I don't believe they cost more than $800 or something.

^ looks like it is missing the front slick? Promo perhaps? Now: Inaudible Collectief - Musique Improvisée - (self-released, Belgian improv in a nice silk screened cover)

Syd Barrett - The Madcap Laughs - (Harvest, boxed EMI UK pressing so I guess a 2nd?)

Richard Williams - New Horn In Town - (Candid, orig stereo)

Just when the original goal was met, she doubled/extended it -- not surprising considering the costs of medical attention in this country & there's still time to donate.

that was the one I remember liking in particular too.

I like Anna Webber's playing though her recordings haven't yet made any hypothetical best-of list. But yeah, talented musician who presumably has yet to hit that "thing." And sure, it's likely that very little could match AB's Quintet (Basel) 1977, which was freshly repressed by Hat this year, and which I'm listening to currently, but that's fine. Halvorson's record is good -- the best parts are where it becomes a concerto for (standard) electric guitar and pedal steel.

Well... I see where you're coming from and I agree in part. Some of my favorite albums of the year are either archival releases or not at all jazz. As a critic I don't really participate in these lists but try each time I've got a chance to review something, put it in context so that even if I'm not going to tally it at the end of the year, at least it is surely validated. I have seen some performances that really hit on what you're looking for, however, and lately that, to me, has been where the advance lies. Any time Jaimie Branch is playing the trumpet I will try to go see her. Or if Joe Hertenstein is playing the drums in an ensemble -- that guy is really quite something. Alvin Fielder just released a new album of duets with bassist Damon Smith -- Alvin is living history of modern jazz drumming, elegant and swinging, and Damon is a player in his 40s who comes out of the European free jazz tradition. It's an interesting combination and they have been performing a lot over the last few years. For every Mary Halvorson record someone buys or listens to, I hope that same person (or another person) checks out Ava Mendoza, who comes from the rock tradition but absolutely walks on a wire in daring to find her way as an improviser. Altoist Marco Eneidi kept charging ahead full bore until the day he died, and his last few releases certainly show that (I was recently revisiting the very last one, Cosmic Brujo Mutafuka, which was his Mexico-based power trio). There's much to be heard that takes it out of the ground.

It's a good record. Frisell, not Ribot, is the guitarist. I don't honestly know if I'd want Cyrille to make a Metamusicians' Stomp-kind of record in 2016.

New (old) one coming out in early 2017 with Sal Nistico and John Engels, Jr. recorded live in '86. Smokin'.

Bleckman is cool - he just recorded with Meredith Monk. Seems like a swell dude and his Instagram game is tight.

I have never even seen a Bingow release in the racks. Not "valuable" I guess, but you don't see them often.

Ah great. I wrote Tomeka asking if she knew how to put me in touch with Wadud for an interview... now I know why I never heard! Great piece, though.

Teddy Charles - Word from Bird - (Atlantic black label mono) briefly owned a very trashed copy of this years ago. Glad to have found a nice one recently -- the music is, of course, superb.

Great set!